Chapter 60: A Dive to Investigate
Listening to Rebecca’s suggestion, Abyss nodded repeatedly. “Right, my sensing ability has limitations. We should search downwards and see if there’s anything noteworthy on the seabed.”
It was common knowledge that islands weren’t simply landmasses floating on the sea. If the water were drained, an island would resemble a mountain peak, with the portion above sea level forming the land. If the island’s surface and shallow areas yielded no valuable clues, exploring the seabed might reveal something they had overlooked.
“So, are we diving down?” Leona asked eagerly. “How are you two at swimming? I’m fine.”
“Ah… I’m not a very good swimmer. The Church only taught me basic swimming, enough to prevent immediate drowning,” Flora said worriedly in response to Leona’s question. “Diving to the seabed might be difficult for me.”
Abyss didn’t address Flora’s concerns but walked up to her and, with a smile, pinched her nose.
Flora was initially startled, her face flushing, but she quickly realized what Abyss meant and smiled.
When Abyss released his hand, Flora patted her head sheepishly. “Oh, look at me. I forgot I’m undead now and don’t need to breathe. I can just dive down; there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Now I’m the one who needs to consider how to protect myself,” Abyss chuckled. “To be honest, I’m not a good swimmer. I can only splash around in the water; moving is difficult. It wasn’t a problem before when I could use magic freely, but now I need to conserve magic. Frankly, I’m a bit at a loss.”
“How long can you hold your breath?” Leona blinked. “I can pull you down; you just need to hold your breath, right? I remember you telling me that my strength is partially transferred to you through the necromantic link, so your body is enhanced. A little water pressure shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I can hold my breath for about half an hour, provided I do this—” Abyss closed his mouth tightly, puffing out his cheeks, indicating he had to maintain that posture.
“Ew, you, a dignified Necromancer, might drown? You can’t be that weak, can you? No way, no way!” Leona patted Abyss’s arm in exasperation. “Are you planning to stay on land?”
“Why not ask the amazing Miss Rebecca?” Rebecca’s voice suddenly echoed in their minds. “Abyss, summon the alchemy lab with your magic. I’ve placed the potion you need on the doorstep.”
Abyss slapped his forehead. “Ah, I forgot such an important thing. Potions carry their own magic; there’s no need to worry about the surrounding environment.”
Rebecca had left a bottle of “Water Breathing Potion” at the alchemy lab’s entrance. This potion, upon consumption, automatically formed a protective film over the nose and mouth, efficiently filtering oxygen from seawater. Due to its complex brewing process and expensive ingredients, it was costly and often unavailable, usually carried by dignitaries traveling by sea as a lifeline in case of shipwreck. Abyss didn’t recall having this potion in his alchemy lab.
“I started brewing it while I was giving you suggestions,” Rebecca’s voice came again. “It’s fresh and tastes quite good. Drink it.”
Abyss had to admire Rebecca’s efficiency. With the time difference advantage of the alchemy lab, she was practically a walking treasure chest.
After drinking the potion, the three jumped into the sea, diving down along the island’s slope.
Leona’s Dou Qi proved invaluable. She didn’t need to swim at all; her Dou Qi condensed around her, forming a pair of large, seal-like flippers. Holding Abyss and Flora’s hands tightly, she propelled them through the water with her massive Dou Qi flippers, moving like three agile fish.
The deeper they dived, the darker the surroundings became. Large fish began to appear and disappear around them, and many bizarre creatures came into view.
Hai-Teweru’s exploration of the sea was limited, with most marine life unrecorded in scholars’ notes, let alone the creatures of these dangerous waters. Abyss and his companions had now reached a depth of several hundred meters, where the water pressure was immense. Ordinary people would have been crushed. The creatures here, adapted to the extreme environment, were largely unknown to Abyss.
As Leona pulled Abyss and Flora deeper, a strange, black creature composed entirely of tentacles, resembling a giant ball of yarn, swam towards them. Countless tentacles wriggled, reaching out – it seemed to consider them a new type of food, intending to reel them in for a taste.
“Ah, a tentacle monster! So disgusting!” Leona complained through the mind link. Two massive wings formed from Dou Qi sprouted from her back, intending to sever the soft tentacles and drive away the impertinent sea creature.
This monster was far more hideous than the Lord of Submergence. Coupled with Leona having read some manga featuring such fantastical creatures as protagonists, she wasn’t planning to hold back. In a flash, her wings tore through the water, slashing towards the tentacle monster’s tentacles.
However, just as Leona’s Dou Qi wings were about to strike, the monster seemed to instinctively sense the danger. A powerful icy aura rapidly radiated from each tentacle, instantly freezing a large area of water, trapping Abyss and his companions within!
Leona, momentarily surprised by the sea monster’s ability, quickly reacted. She shook her body, shattering the surrounding ice, then swung her Dou Qi wings, severing half of the monster’s tentacles.
Severely injured, the sea monster frantically paddled away with its remaining tentacles, leaving a trail of dark red blood as it vanished.
“A magic-using animal? We seem to be on the right track,” Flora immediately realized the sea monster had used magic! Nothing else could instantly drain the heat from an area of water!
“Look… there’s a light over there. Why don’t we go take a look?” Abyss made a new discovery at that moment.
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